Jo and Mark, St.Mary’s, Lavant and Farbridge, 2nd September 2011

Early September is a highly sought after time to get married and Jo and Mark’s pictures show why – it was a day of glorious sunshine with wonderful light staying through until the evening.

You have succeeded so well in capturing the relaxed, informal, fun mood we had on the day. We have looked at the pictures about a hundred times already and everyone we have shown them to has commented how beautiful they were.

I’m really pleased that such a happy day shines through the pictures and I have to say I enjoyed it enormously. Here’s what Jo and Mark have to say now:

“Henry, thanks so much for the amazing photos. You have succeeded so well in capturing the relaxed, informal, fun mood we had on the day. We have looked at the pictures about a hundred times already and everyone we have shown them to has commented how beautiful they were. You were absolutely perfect on the day – we never noticed you at all, but when we looked for you, somehow you managed to be there!”

Thanks for helping our day be so special and giving us so many great pictures.”

Thank you Jo and Mark, I wish you all the best in Hong Kong.

Sam and James, Farbridge, 5th August 2011

From the moment I met Sam and James it was clear their wedding would be different.

I often say each wedding reflects the style of those involved and it couldn’t be truer on this occasion. Above all this day was fun from beginning to end and you can see this in the pictures. The blue skies and the downs above Farbridge made for a fabulous backdrop to a memorable day – and this set of pictures also shows just what wedding photography at Farbridge can be about. What do Sam and James think ?

The blue skies and the downs above Farbridge made for a fabulous backdrop to a memorable day

“It’s taken me until now to decide what to write. I cannot tell you how much we love the photos. They are, without question, the best wedding photographs we have ever seen… perhaps we’re just biased because we’re in them! Whatever the reason, we are in absolute awe of your talent and feel so lucky to have such incredible shots.”

Thank you both.

Holly and Tom, Pagham, July 30th 2011

Outside there are clear blue skies, it’s very warm – and it’s October. It’s been a fantastic summer of weddings, non-stop for months now but I’ve got so much exciting material for the blog.

The skies were clear and blue – and it was very warm – for Holly and Tom’s wedding at the end of July. There were so many dramatic elements to this wedding – the horse drawn carriage and the aerial display right over the marquee to name two – but despite being known for my enthusiasm for black-and-white photography I thought the colours were stunning. I love the vibrancy of all the colours together – the result of careful planning by both families.

The photos are absolutely fabulous, they capture the day perfectly

What do Holly and Tom think?

“The photos are absolutely fabulous, they capture the day perfectly …your photography is truly stunning!”

Thank you both.

]]> http://www.henrywells.co.uk/blog/2011/10/pagham-wedding-photography/feed/ 0 http://www.henrywells.co.uk/blog/2011/07/wedding-photography-at-amberley-working-museum/ http://www.henrywells.co.uk/blog/2011/07/wedding-photography-at-amberley-working-museum/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 13:00:06 +0000 Alex Stanhope http://www.henrywells.co.uk/blog/?p=1536

Carol and Will, Amberley Working Museum, May 14th 2011.

I first met Carol and Will at the wedding of their friends Hannah and Adam in September 2009 – they have featured on the site before as the couple kissing in front of a lantern, one of my favourite shots.

They booked me for their wedding in May this year not long afterwards and after a long wait the day fin ally arrived. Amberley Working Museum was a venue I hadn’t worked at before, but all the staff were incredibly helpful and showed me round beforehand. They did everything they could on the day and the result was the day had a very special feel and of being a one off rather than part of a conveyor belt of weddings.

Thank you for our gorgeous wedding photos …

Here are Carol and Will’s comments on seeing the pictures:

“Thank you for our gorgeous wedding photos. Looking at them is like being back on that wonderful day, we are really pleased, you really did capture the magic of the day.

Thank you also for being so incredibly friendly, it was really nice to see you and say hello when the wedding car arrived at Amberley and to chat to you on the day. Our guests thought you were great too and commented on how un intrusive your photography style is.

We will definitely be recommending you…”

Thank you Carol and Will, I’m only sorry it’s over – and a big thank you for the tea and cake, the sure way to this photographer’s heart.

Lisa and Jonathan, Holy Trinity, Cuckfield, and Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill, 9th April 2011

April is a wonderful time to get married and much underrated – the hour change at the end of March and increase in light levels make for a much longer day.

We tend to forget the longest day is only two months away. Lisa and Jonathan’s day in April was at the start of the good weather and sunshine we’re still enjoying – it was just like summer.

Holy Trinity in Cuckfield is a picture postcard English Church, surrounding by greenery and with a wonderfully ornate ceiling – the space outside the church is a huge help to a photographer, as is the space at Jeremy’s. Jeremy’s has literally acres of private space opened onto by a marquee, a fabulous blend on such a day.

We saw how hard you worked on our wedding day and you have truly captured some fantastic moments.

Add outstanding cuisine and you have all you need for a very memorable day – and this was a fabulous wedding day, full of happiness and a genuine celebration of two people who have found something very special in each other deciding to spend the rest of their lives together.

Lisa and Jonathan commented on the pictures: “thank you for the fantastic photos – we really love them. We saw how hard you worked on our wedding day and you have truly captured some fantastic moments”.

Thank you both for a brilliant day.

Nikki and Duncan, St.Giles, Horsted Keynes and Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill

An informal, relaxed day, full of laughter and fun – many of my clients describe the wedding day they would like to have in these terms.

Certainly that was the way Nikki and Duncan saw it and I’ve chosen pictures to show how the style of the day is reflected in the photographs. There’s lots of laughter here, because the day was full of it.

There’s no starchy formality because Nikki and Duncan didn’t want it.

There’s no starchy formality because Nikki and Duncan didn’t want it. And when you have a sometime member of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band playing at your wedding you know not everything is going to be serious.

My wedding photography is not ‘one size fits all’ – it reflects the bride and groom and the day they choose to have. These pictures are a reflection of Nikki and Duncan – and their friends and family.

Karen and Tim, Jeremy’s Restaurant, Borde Hill, 19th February 2011

What happens if you get married in February and it rains to the extent that you can’t go outside?

I’ve been asked this question many times by those getting married in late Autumn, Winter, and early Spring. I hope the selection of photographs here shows that it isn’t the end of world – quite the opposite, with the very best of digital technology atmospheric pictures indoors without flash are most definitely possible.

Thank you so much for the fantastic photos… We love the relaxed and informal style – they were just what we wanted!

This was a very, very happy day, even if the weather wasn’t fabulous – and the resulting set of pictures captured the emotion of the day which as I say elsewhere on the site is what makes for memorable images. You might expect me to say this, but what do Karen and Tim think now:

“Thank you so much for the fantastic photos… We love the relaxed and informal style – they were just what we wanted! Many of our guests commented on how easy going you were – and how you put everyone at ease. It’s a lovely record to have of the most wonderful day that whizzed by too quickly! We can’t thank you enough…”

Proof not only of the importance of wedding photography when the day is over but also of the often overlooked fact that it’s not just about equipment – how your photographer behaves on the day is just as significant.

Thank you Karen and Tim.

Jo and DJ Mark, Farbridge, February 5th 2011

Photography is actually all about people, not about equipment as some would like to believe, and it’s because of that I enjoy it so much and have as much enthusiasm for it as ever.

One of the nicest people I have ever met amongst wedding professionals is DJ Mark – he is incredibly kind and devoted to giving his clients a wonderful evening, whatever it takes from him.

One of the nicest people I have ever met amongst wedding professionals is DJ Mark – he is incredibly kind and devoted to giving his clients a wonderful evening, whatever it takes from him.

And so I was very pleased and honoured when Mark asked me to take the pictures for his wedding to Jo at Farbridge. As always I wanted to do an outstanding job and wondered what an overcast day in early February would have allowed – but I needn’t have worried, there was enough light to photograph during the ceremony without flash, allowing me to do justice to the atmosphere and emotion of the day and the sheer size and airiness of the barn at Farbridge let me carry on taking natural light pictures into the evening.

I’m particularly pleased with the ceremony pictures and especially the black-and-white images – and contrary to what some might say it was great to work for two wonderful people I know who look so happy together. Jo is a great dancer, with a brilliant DJ scratching routine – there are some very happy dance shots here!

Thank you both – and if anyone wants to know more about Mark you can find him at www.thedj.co.uk/markparker/

Sharon and Steve, Upwaltham Barns, 26th November 2010

There are some times of the year that are very popular for very obvious reasons – the May Bank Holidays, the last weekends of July, especially for teachers getting married, all of August and September – but the last weekend in November might not spring to mind as one of them.

Even so this weekend has become increasingly popular in recent years and Sharon and Steve’s wedding at Upwaltham Barns shows the gorgeous quality the light has at this time of year. The warmth of the highly angled winter sunlight is wonderful and makes for atmospheric pictures that I hope will remind Sharon and Steve of their day for the rest of their lives.

The warmth of the highly angled winter sunlight is wonderful and makes for atmospheric pictures.

They also made the photographically wise choice to get married at 2pm whilst there was still plenty of daylight for photography both indoors and out. The light in the barn at Upwaltham helps massively with this – the glass lets in so much daylight that photography with available light is pretty much possible until sunset.

I tried to get Sharon and Steve the best of both worlds – evocative natural light photography inside and out during daylight hours and warm indoor light in the barns once the sun had set.

Thank you Sharon and Steve for your kind words afterwards – and Sharon, you said you wanted to be on the blog, so here you are !

Kate and Ian, Amberley Castle, September 10^th 2010

A very Happy New Year to all my clients and readers. All the signs are that despite the dire economic  forecasts all around us happiness can still be found – I’ve just finished photographing a wonderful sequence of truly happy wedding days, starting in late November and going right through to Christmas.

The joys of winter weddings and weddings in the snow will follow, but first I want to catch up with Kate and Ian’s wedding at Amberley Castle back in September.

Many of my clients at Amberley Castle have their heart in such reportage pictures, but also want some photographs that show off such a fabulous venue

Elsewhere on the site I mention different styles of wedding photography and Kate and Ian’s wedding has them all. For those who wonder what ‘getting ready’ photographs can offer here are some wonderful examples, a fine blend of the informal and the timelessly elegant. The real emotion of the ceremony photographs shows the power of reportage photography at its best – such pictures just cannot be staged.

Many of my clients at Amberley Castle have their heart in such reportage pictures, but also want some photographs that show off such a fabulous venue. Kate and Ian were no exception, but their pictures outside neither feel staged or cheesy – they reflect the two people involved and the feeling of the day. Kate and Ian ended up with a set of pictures that had pretty much everything – elegance, beauty, emotion, the wonder of the venue and hilarious moments with their friends.

Thank you both for choosing me as your photographer.